Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav shed light on how skipper Rishabh Pant has given him confidence from behind the stumps since the former became a part of the franchise in 2022. After a tough last couple of seasons for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Kuldeep Yadav was low on confidence.
However, Rishabh Pant backed Kuldeep Yadav in the DC setup and the spinner opened up on how the skipper wasn’t worried about big shots from the opposition to try and induce a false shot.
Kuldeep Yadav IPL career
Kuldeep Yadav, known for his intriguing left-arm wrist spin, has established himself as an important member of India’s bowling squad. His unusual bowling movement and lethal variations, especially a deceptive googly, have regularly challenged batters and garnered him praise for his wicket-taking abilities. Kuldeep Yadav’s cricket career began at the age of 17 when he represented India in the Under-19 circuit in 2012. However, it was at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup that he made his true international debut.
Kuldeep Yadav made history by being the first Indian bowler to capture a hat-trick in the event, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, grabbing the attention of selectors and earning an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2016. In the same year, Kuldeep Yadav made his List A debut for Uttar Pradesh and continued to impress with steady performances.
His outstanding performance in the 2017 Duleep Trophy, when he took 17 wickets in three games, established his status as a rising star in Indian cricket. Although Yadav made his IPL debut in 2016, it was in 2018 that he fully demonstrated his talent. With 17 wickets in 16 matches, he emerged as a vital player for the Kolkata side, gaining acclaim for his ability to confuse hitters with his spin magic. However, his form deteriorated in future seasons, and a knee injury forced him to miss the IPL 2021 before being dismissed by Kolkata.
In 2022, Kuldeep Yadav found a new home with the Delhi franchise, where he enjoyed a resurgence in form. Finishing as one of the tournament’s top-five wicket-takers with 21 scalps, Kuldeep Yadav reaffirmed his status as a premier spinner in the IPL. Yadav’s success in both domestic and IPL cricket prepared the door for his international debut in 2017, when he made an early impression with four wickets against Australia in the Test match.
Since then, he has become a regular in India’s bowling lineup in all three forms. Throughout his career, Kuldeep Yadav has achieved remarkable feats, including five-wicket hauls in all three formats of the game. He played a pivotal role for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, claiming 15 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.45, showcasing his ability to perform on the grandest stage. However Kuldeep Yadav opened up with his stint with Delhi Capitals and his relationship with Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh Pant and I have been great friends- Kuldeep Yadav
Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav shed light on how skipper Rishabh Pant has given him confidence from behind the stumps since the former became a part of the franchise in 2022. After a tough last couple of seasons for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Kuldeep was low on confidence. However, Pant backed him in the DC setup and the spinner opened up on how the skipper wasn’t worried about big shots from the opposition to try and induce a false shot.
Speaking to Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, here’s what Kuldeep Yadav had to say about his camaraderie with Rishabh Pant
“Rishabh and I have been great friends. He has shown a lot of faith in me even when there were times where batters have gone after me. Sometimes you think to be defensive and close out the over. However, Rishabh has at times forced me to bowl deliveries and that have fetched wickets for DC. He gets a great idea from behind the stumps about what the batters may be trying to do next,”
Kuldeep Yadav also thanked DC coach Ricky Ponting for giving him the confidence that he would play each and every game for DC in IPL 2022 despite just returning from a long injury lay off.
Kuldeep Yadav on his time with KKR
Kuldeep had a brilliant IPL 2018 season under Dinesh Karthik’s captaincy where he picked up 17 wickets in 16 games and helped KKR reach the playoffs. However, it all went downhill from there as Kuldeep played just five games in the 2020 edition and none in the following season.
On this, he stated:
“I had a very good season under DK Bhai but then I somehow couldn’t pick many wickets. We had good spinners and I feel Eden became a good batting surface. DK Bhai used to give great advice from behind the stumps but I wasn’t being able to deliver wickets. I wasn’t a regular even in the Indian team and struggled to pick wickets and probably that’s why I didn’t get gametime (at KKR).”
Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged that he was frustrated with the lack of gametime at KKR. However, he claimed that he matured with time, especially over the past couple of years, and now understands the importance of staying in the present and working on his skills.
With the changes he made in terms of pace and trajectory, Kuldeep Yadav 2.0 became a completely different bowler and has been a vital cog for his IPL franchise as well as the national team.